British WWII Scots Guards Officer's Visor Cap, Identified to a Notable Public Figure

This is an exceptional British WWII Scots Guards Officer’s Visor Cap in outstanding condition, a remarkable piece of history and a rare item for collectors. This late WWII example is a small size, featuring the distinctive Guards pattern with its shorter, more vertical peak, a hallmark of the regimental style. The cap is in excellent condition, free of moth damage, and both sides showcase the regimental pattern tartan. The cap strap is a very dark brown, bordering on black, adding to the elegance of the design. The Royal Scots Kings Crown buttons are paired with the small-sized Royal Scots officers cap badge, showing slight wear from cleaning.

The interior is equally well-preserved, with a complete Morocco brown leather sweatband showing minor sweat staining to the forehead area. Under the protective oilskin lining in the crown, faint remnants of a Herbert Johnson, New Bond Street retailer label are visible, adding a touch of authenticity.

This cap was the personal property of Peter Rees, who served in Margaret Thatcher’s government as a Trade & Industry Minister and later as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Rees, who was ennobled as Baron Rees of Goytre in 1987, served in the Scots Guards towards the end of WWII. After his demobilization in 1948, he went on to study at Christchurch College, Oxford.

Accompanying this cap is a large, framed photograph of Rees wearing the same cap in his Scots Guards uniform, along with a family photo album containing many high-quality, large-format images taken in Europe, likely in northern Italy and Austria. While the exact timeline is unclear, these images may have been taken during or after the war. Notably, there is a press photograph of an unidentified British Army General, as well as images of Rees with a Commanding General at an unidentified European port city, suggesting his involvement with Yugoslav partisans and the complex post-war ownership issues surrounding Trieste.

This visor cap, with its provenance tied directly to a prominent British public figure, is a unique and historically significant piece, making it a highly valuable addition to any collection.